AUSTIN, Texas — Brad Langle said he bought property in the Spicewood area near Lake Travis for obvious reasons: the lake and the parks.
And in the last two decades or so that he's lived in the area, he's experienced both. But over time, he's noticed a shift in the area and has grown concerned.
Narrows Recreation Area is the park closest to him. It's part of the Lower Colorado Authority (LCRA). Langle explained that it's been blocked off by a fence and recently has been closed off to the public with a sign that reads, "Park closed until further notice."
"It's rather alarming to me that LCRA just refuses to maintain the park and refuses to give us access to it," Langle said. "That's their responsibility: to maintain the parks and keep them usable for the public."
A spokesperson for LCRA told KVUE the property has had the fence and gate for years, and it only made improvements to the fence when it closed the park several months ago.
As for the reasoning for the closure, the spokesperson said, "The park is closed while LCRA assesses park operations."
LCRA also noted that there were notices of the closures on its website. However, according to LCRA, Grelle Recreation Area and Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area on Lake Travis are still accessible to the public.
Langle also pointed to Pace Bend Park, which is overseen by Travis County Parks.
He noted stone blocks restricting access to the shoreline and not enough campsites due to barricades in the area.
"It's kind of this systematic thing that I see doing by making the parks less usable and, you know, and then by installing these stone blocks ... so you can't gain access to the shoreline, " Langle said.
KVUE reached out to officials with the county's parks department. The director of the Public Information Office provided the following response:
"Pace Bend Park offers camping, both developed and primitive sites, that can be reserved. There is also lake access, boat ramps, mountain biking trails, hiking trails and picnicking areas. The east side of the park is for day use and lake access. There are stones blocking vehicle access in some areas to help promote shoreline restoration and to protect natural resources. Tournament Point offers vehicle access to the water's edge as well as a concrete boat ramp that is currently open. Camping is by reservation or first come, first served, if there are sites available. Pace Bend Park currently has 81 campsites available for park visitors."
Langle said how he had personally reached out to both LCRA and Travis County Parks for information regarding the lack of access and restrictions but did not receive any answers. He said only hopes as summer approaches, he and others don't see other restrictions pop up.